About this project

ALCHEMA: Turn Fruit into Personalized Craft Cider

$344,231

pledged of $80,000 goal

899

backers

What is a prototype?

A prototype is a preliminary model of something. Projects that offer physical products need to show backers documentation of a working prototype. This gallery features photos, videos, and other visual documentation that will give backers a sense of what’s been accomplished so far and what’s left to do. Though the development process can vary for each project, these are the stages we typically see:

Proof of Concept

Explorations that test ideas and functionality.

Functional Prototype

Demonstrates the functionality of the final product, but looks different.

Appearance Prototype

Looks like the final product, but is not functional.

Design Prototype

Appearance and function match the final product, but is made with different manufacturing methods.

Production Prototype

Appearance, function, and manufacturing methods match the final product.

Prototype Gallery

These photos and videos provide a detailed look at this project’s development.

ALCHEMA enables you to homebrew your own unique flavor of hard craft cider. With the simplicity of making a pot of coffee, you can turn your favorite fruit into craft cider with limitless flavor options.

We created Alchema to simplify homebrewing, starting with cider. Alchema brings the joy of craft cider to you and your loved ones. You pick the ingredients, and let Alchema take care of the rest!

With Alchema, you can create your own flavor of craft cider or mead within 2 weeks. You can also make wine with Alchema with your own resource of wine grapes and age it for longer.

Fermentation is a natural process where yeast transforms sugar into alcohol. Alchema simplifies the homebrew hassle by helping you enjoy your own craft cider in just 3 easy steps:

1. Choose a recipe on the app: Browse through our online recipe database and gather the necessary ingredients, including fruit, sugar, and water.

2. Add ingredients- fruit, sugar, water: Each recipe indicates which kind and how much yeast to add. As you are adding each ingredient, Alchema will weigh the ingredients and let you know (through the app) when it's enough.

3. Add a yeast packet: Yeast is essential for fermentation to take place. The recipe will tell you which yeast will work best for the kind of cider you're making. For example, you need different yeast to make your cider still or bubbly. Buy additional yeast from the Alchema site or from local homebrew stores. Included in each 3-pack of yeast: 1 packet for sparkling cider, 1 for fruitier concoctions, and 1 for recipes with a stronger alcohol content.

That's it! A batch of cider typically takes about 1-2 weeks to ferment, depending on the fruit and recipe. Alchema will notify you when it’s ready.

Here's a demo video of Alchema in action:

The reason why passionate homebrew beginners often fail at their first batch is often due to contamination, which causes a bad taste. Alchema is equipped with medical grade UV-C LED light that sanitizes the container before starting the fermentation process. Additionally, the Alchema app allows the user to monitor all aspects of the fermentation process, eliminating the need to open the lid and check the batch. This eliminates another potential cause of contamination.

Check your fermentation status with just one tap!

To celebrate we reached $300K on Kickstarter, Alchema is now equipped with a "progress indicator" that tells you how much percentage your craft cider creation is finished. You can check it simply with ONE TAP on the Alchema device and the LED bar will light up. The more portion of the bar lights up, the closer you can enjoy your tasty cider!

Select and Follow a Recipe Select a recipe from the recipe collection. Follow the step-by-step guide to create your cider. Add your favorites to the wishlist.

Monitoring Get notified about your latest batch while you’re on the go.

Notification The Alchema app will send you notification when your craft cider is finished!

Sharing Connect your social media accounts or open your recipes to the public for other makers to follow. When you finish your masterpiece, you can immediately share with your friends via social media! Get ready for taste-testers!

You will be able to share the new cider you create on your own social media with one click in Alchema's App

Our mission is to make it fun and easy for everyone to make delicious craft cider at home. Please support us by pre-ordering through one of the pledge/reward levels and become part of the craft making family!

We have designed especially for you, our backers, an elegant bottle opener and a cider glass:

Also, we will provide yeast packets along with the device. Each packet is for making one round of cider (0.6 gal, or 2.4 L). Included in each 3-pack of yeast packets:

We started creating Alchema in 2014 and have made three prototypes before the working sample you see now. With the working sample, we were selected by HAX, the world’s first and largest hardware accelerator, to finally launch Alchema. With the help from HAX, we have been demoing our product at large retailers such as Target and Brookstone. We have been receiving great feedback and revising our product accordingly from people like you! We wouldn’t be here today without you.

Thanks for all of your support, and we’re looking forward to bringing Alchema into homes across America.

If you like what we're doing, please spread the love:

This project is promoted by Jellop, a direct­ response online advertising agency specializing in Kickstarter campaigns on Facebook Ads and Google AdWords.

Risks and challenges

We have been working hard to ensure that the device’s various functions work seamlessly. However, there may still be some unpredictable issues that potentially lead to minor delivery delays. Just like any other mass produced product, we face potential issues during the manufacturing process.

Aside from the manufacturing process itself, we also have to manage packing and logistical issues. We’ve vetted our partners over and over again, and we have an amazing network of other hardware founders to help us if issues arise with fulfillment. However, we are working hard to ensure this doesn’t happen.

At Alchema, we are fully committed to delivering the highest quality product, on time. We will be fully transparent every step of the way to you, our awesome supporters. A big, generous thank you from all of us for helping us bring Alchema to life! Cheers!